"A major question regarding climate change is whether species can respond to rapid climate change and avoid extinction. Here, we address this question by studying neutral and adaptive genetic variation in populations of the lichen-forming fungus Peltigera membranacea. Based on existing genome data (host lab), we identified hundreds of microsatellites (SSR) and 119 genes involved in fungal environmental stress responsea (ESR). Landscape-level patterns of gene movement will be studied with SSR markers, offering valuable insight on whether the species is likely to spread to sites with suitable conditions under climate change (landscape genetics). An experiment will shed light on whether gene expression differs when thalli are grown at high and low temperatures (experimental transcriptomics). The ESR genes will be investigated with Next Generation Sequencing to identify SNPs with an association to environmental variables to infer the species’ potential to adapt to the environment based on standing genetic variation within populations (landscape genomics). The results will clarify the response of lichen fungi to climate change, both in terms of the species’ potential for adaptation, tolerance of changed conditions, and spread of individuals to new sites.By performing this fascinating research, the fellow will have the valuable opportunity to receive high quality training in bioinformatics including analysis of transcriptomes, genome annotation, and training in laboratory skills, i.e. isolation of high-quality mRNA and preparation of libraries for Solexa sequencing. A long-term collaboration will be established between the laboratories in Switzerland and Iceland, as a major step in building a pan-European researcher team working on population genomics of lichens (LICHENOMICS). This project will thus contribute to European excellence by strengthening a unique discipline involving numerous fascinating biological phenomena yet to be explored."